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Comment by dangwhy | Hacker News Reader

> Some quick googling indicates there are around 65K H1Bs issued every year, and around 4.4 million software developers.

Well both of those numbers are wrong.

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One is a per year number and another is a total? Although you can only be on an h1B for six years, so theoretically there are only a max of 390k or so H1Bs at anytime.

> Although you can only be on an h1B for six years,

you can be on h1b for infinite amount of time. most h1b apply for adjustment of status for residency which lets them renew it indefinitely.

> Individuals who deplete this 6-year limit are not eligible for another 6 years until they have resided and been physically present outside the United States for one year, at which time their eligibility for a new 6-year period of H-1B status "restarts." Click here for more information.

https://isss.temple.edu/faculty-staff-and-researchers/intern....

> most h1b apply for adjustment of status for residency

maybe you missed this part?

https://www.uscis.gov/i-140

That's to become a permanent resident, not renew a H1B. You cannot renew a H1B indefinitely.

> You cannot renew a H1B indefinitely.

You can once uscis approves you i140, you can file h1b under cap exception. You can continue doing this as long as your 140 is pending with uscis, there is no upper limit.

At that point, you are just waiting for your green card.

So you are saying your i140 can be pending indefinitely?

yes because it depends of quota availability.

What are the correct numbers?

h1b is 85k + 20k usa stem degree = 105k . 4.4 mil number is from 2016.

Thanks!

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